Home » Cuisine » Chinese Recipes » Gluten Free Orange Chicken
by Whitney Bond
January 9, 2024
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4.86 stars (14 ratings)
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Make THE BEST Orange Chicken recipe, that’s gluten free and easy to make in just 29 minutes! It’s healthy, more delicious than Chinese takeout, and features the most amazing orange chicken sauce.
Table of contents
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Tips and tricks
- How to store and reheat
- What to serve with it
- More gluten free Chinese recipes
My obsession with making my favorite Chinese foods gluten free started with this Gluten Free General Tso’s Chicken recipe. While General Tso’s and Orange Chicken are prepared similarly, the sauces are different. Orange sauce is sweeter and is not spicy. General Tso’s sauce is less sweet and more spicy. Chinese Honey Chicken is also prepared similarly, but with a different sauce where the main ingredient is honey.
Lucky for you, I have gluten free recipes for each of these delicious Chinese chicken dishes on the blog. So if you’re gluten free, you don’t have to miss out on your favorite Chinese restaurant favorites anymore!
To make a healthy orange chicken recipe, that’s also gluten free, instead of battering the chicken in flour, I batter it in cornstarch. And instead of deep frying the chicken, I stir fry it on the stove. I also use gluten free soy sauce to make the best orange sauce ever!
Out of all the recipes I’ve ever made on the blog, this is my brothers favorite recipe! The best part is, it’s made in just 29 minutes. It’s easy enough to whip up for dinner tonight!
Ingredients
- Orange – to make the best orange sauce, you’ll want to use both the zest and the juice from an orange. This gives it a nice tang and that bright, orange flavor. Since we’ll be zesting the outside of the orange, you want to find a bright orange, without any blemishes on the outside skin.
- White wine vinegar – in a pinch, you could also use rice vinegar.
- Gluten free soy sauce – also known as tamari, you’ll need this to make the orange sauce gluten free. If you’re not gluten free, you can use traditional soy sauce.
- Sriracha – this helps balance out the sweetness in the sauce. We like things on the spicier side at our house, so we always double the amount of sriracha in the orange sauce. Feel free to do the same for a nice balance of sweet and spicy!
- Garlic – fresh crushed cloves are always preferred for the best flavor.
- Ginger – I use ground ginger in the sauce, but if you happen to have fresh ginger on hand, feel free to grate that right into the sauce.
- Brown sugar – this will help sweeten the sauce and the batter for the chicken.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – you could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, if you prefer dark meat.
- Egg – used to batter the chicken.
- Cornstarch – also used to batter the chicken. I use cornstarch in this recipe, instead of flour, to make it gluten free.
- Olive oil – for pan frying the chicken, you can also use avocado, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
- Green onions + sesame seeds – these optional ingredients are great to add as a garnish on the orange chicken.
Instructions
I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: prepare the orange sauce. In a medium bowl, combine fresh squeezed orange juice, white wine vinegar, gluten free soy sauce and sriracha. Add garlic, orange zest, ground ginger and brown sugar, stir to combine.
Step 2: crack an egg in a shallow dish and whisk the egg. Place bite size chicken breast pieces in the whisked egg and toss to coat the chicken in the egg.
Step 3: in another shallow dish, combine cornstarch and brown sugar. Move the chicken from the egg to the cornstarch mixture. Shake off any excess cornstarch, then place the chicken aside until it’s all battered.
Step 4: add olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and stir fry for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly browned on the outside.
Step 5: pour the sauce over the chicken, reduce the heat on the stove to medium-low.
Step 6: cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and is sticking to the chicken. Remove the chicken from the heat and garnish with diced green onions and sesame seeds, if you’d like.
Tips and tricks
- When battering the chicken, use one hand for the egg mixture and another for the cornstarch mixture. My Dad taught me this trick as a kid when we would make fried chicken together. If you use the same hand in the egg and the cornstarch, the egg from your hand will drip into the cornstarch. This can make the cornstarch mixture become clumpy.
- If you want to spice up this orange chicken recipe, you can do so in a couple of ways. First, you can add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or an additional teaspoon of sriracha to the sauce. Second, you can top the completed dish with red chili flakes or drizzle a little sriracha right on top.
- The orange sauce can be made ahead of time and either stored in the refrigerator or freezer. The sauce will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. To defrost the sauce, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it defrost for at least 12 hours in the fridge.
- The chicken can be deep fried for a more authentic orange chicken recipe. When deep frying, add 3 inches of oil to a large skillet. Heat the oil on the stove over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, fry the chicken pieces for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown. Once all of the chicken is fried, toss it in the orange sauce and serve.
How to store and reheat
- Leftover orange chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To reheat it in the oven, arrange the chicken in an even layer on a baking sheet. Heat the broiler on the oven to low. Place the chicken under the broiler for 2-3 minutes. This will heat the chicken and keep it crispy, without making it tough.
- You can also quickly reheat it in the microwave. Place the chicken in a microwave-safe dish and microwave for 2 minutes. Squeeze a little fresh orange juice on top after reheating the chicken. This gives it a fresh burst of flavor.
What to serve with it
Chinese Orange Chicken is commonly served with white rice. For a low carb option, serve the chicken with Cauliflower Rice or serve it in lettuce wraps. You can also serve it with steamed vegetables, such as snap peas, cauliflower, or steamed broccoli, or any of these Asian-style side dish recipes.
- Grilled Vegetable Lo Mein
- Roasted Asian Vegetables
- Stir Fry Vegetables
More gluten free Chinese recipes
Most Chinese food is not traditionally gluten free. But these recipes will help you easily make gluten free Chinese meals at home!
- Honey Walnut Shrimp – this classic Chinese dim sum dish is easy to make at home in only 25 minutes!
- – this recipe combines two Chinese restaurant favorites into one delicious gluten free meal!
- 20 Minute Kung Pao Chicken – Kung pao chicken is a spicy good time! You’re going to love this easy gluten free version!
- Chinese Lettuce Wraps– if you’ve ever been to PF Changs, I guaranteed you’ve tried their appetizer lettuce wraps! This is a healthier version of those, that’s just as flavorful and delicious!
- Sriracha Steak Fried Rice – this 15 minute one pan recipe is perfect for a gluten free weeknight meal! It’s super quick and easy to make!
- – this popular Panda Express menu item is so easy to make in your own kitchen! And I promise it’s 10 TIMES better than Panda Express!
Don’t forget to pin this Orange Chickenrecipe for later. When you make it, be sure to share a pic on Instagram and tag me@WhitneyBondor use the hashtag #WBRecipes!
Made this recipe and loved it? Be sure to rate it 5 stars below!↓
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4.86 stars (14 ratings)
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Gluten Free Orange Chicken
Gluten free orange chicken is a quick & easy recipe with the most delicious sauce that’s healthy & more delicious than Chinese restaurant take out!
Servings: 2 people
Prep Time: 29 minutes mins
Total Time: 29 minutes mins
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into large chunks
- 1 egg, whisked
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh green onions, chopped – garnish
- 1 tsp sesame seeds, garnish
Instructions
Prepare the sauce by combining the orange juice, white wine vinegar, gluten free soy sauce, sriracha, garlic, orange zest, ground ginger and ¼ cup brown sugar in a medium bowl.
Set the sauce aside.
Prepare a shallow dish with the whisked egg and another shallow bowl with the cornstarch and 2 tbsp brown sugar.
Place the chicken into the egg then lightly coat in the cornstarch mixture.
Add the olive oil to a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
When the oil is hot, add the breaded chicken.
Cook 5-7 minutes, or until chicken begins to lightly brown.
Pour the sauce over the chicken.
Reduce heat to low and cook 8-10 minutes.
Serve with rice, vegetables or lettuce for wraps.
Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- This orange chicken recipe is sweet, to add some spice, add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or an additional tablespoon of sriracha to the sauce. You can also top the completed dish with red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha.
- To reheat this chicken in the microwave, place in a microwave-safe dish and microwave for 2 minutes.
- To reheat this chicken in the oven, place in an even layer on a baking sheet. Place under the broiler on low in the oven for 2-3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Serving 2gCalories 789kcal (39%)Carbohydrates 74g (25%)Protein 53g (106%)Fat 29g (45%)Saturated Fat 4g (20%)Cholesterol 226mg (75%)Sodium 1380mg (58%)Potassium 1006mg (29%)Sugar 41g (46%)Vitamin A 310mg (6%)Vitamin C 23.4mg (28%)Calcium 72mg (7%)Iron 2.3mg (13%)
Did you make this recipe?Tag @WhitneyBond on Instagram and hashtag it #WBRecipes!
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originally published March 1, 2019 — last updated January 9, 2024 30 Comments
Posted in: 29 Minute Meals, Chicken Recipes, Chinese Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Method, Quick and Easy Recipes, Recipes, WB Favorites
About Whitney Bond
I’m a sports-loving, coffee-drinking, food blogger, the host of “29 Minute Meals”, a contributing writer for TODAY Food, cookbook author and on-camera food and lifestyle expert! Here you’ll find most recipes are made in 29 minutes or less, in one pot, or in a crock pot!
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Leave a Reply
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Jason — July 5, 2022 @ 12:48 PM Reply
Can you double this sauce by 2x or 3 x or does the orange juice amounts need to be reduced as you double or triple.
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Whitney Bond — July 5, 2022 @ 2:06 PM Reply
Hi Jason, yes, you can double or triple the sauce using two or three times as much of each of the sauce ingredients. Enjoy!
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Tonya — August 10, 2021 @ 10:09 AM Reply
My family loves it!
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Whitney Bond — August 11, 2021 @ 1:16 PM Reply
Yay! So happy to hear that Tonya!
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Samantha — May 18, 2021 @ 10:45 PM Reply
Yes. Yes. And more yes!!! My boyfriend didn’t stop raving the entire time we were eating this dish. I’ve never done homemade Chinese other than a simple stir fry. This is definetly going to be at least a monthly staple! I’m trying your Honey Chicken next! Thank you !!
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Whitney Bond — May 19, 2021 @ 10:55 AM Reply
Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that you both enjoyed the recipe. Can’t wait to hear what you think of the Honey Chicken, it’s another fan favorite!
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Anne — November 10, 2020 @ 6:02 PM Reply
Made this tonight and my husband told me this is now his favorite meal. Said it is better than Panda Express. Thanks!
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Ana — July 8, 2020 @ 8:00 AM Reply
This is so good, we actual triple the sauce because it’s so good. Can’t go wrong with this. Seems like we’ve been eating it every week for dinner. Both gluten free and gluten lovers enjoy it! Thank you! Will try out your other recipes.
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Whitney Bond — July 8, 2020 @ 11:42 AM Reply
Wonderful Ana, I’m so happy to hear that! I totally agree with you on the sauce, it’s my fav!!
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Ana — May 17, 2020 @ 8:34 AM Reply
Excellent. We did it the first time as the recipe calls, but we didn’t have enough sauce. So the next time we made it, we doubled the chicken and quadrupled the sauce. AMAZING. Thank you! We will try your other Chinese recipes.
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Whitney Bond — May 18, 2020 @ 8:29 AM Reply
Wonderful Ana! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for sharing your review!
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Elena — May 11, 2020 @ 1:58 PM Reply
I loved it! Thanks for sharing it!
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Whitney Bond — May 12, 2020 @ 7:56 AM Reply
Wonderful Elena! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Jeanette Vandermolen — May 2, 2020 @ 5:21 PM Reply
I’ve made it twice now and we LOVE it. Today I added a little more sriracha and made a double recipe.
I made extra sauce too because it was a little light on sauce last time.-
Whitney Bond — May 4, 2020 @ 7:22 AM Reply
So glad you’re enjoying the recipe Jeanette! Thanks for sharing!
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Chester Walters — January 16, 2020 @ 3:52 PM Reply
We substituted GF Bisquick for the cornstarch which gave it a little crunch. Orange sauce was fabulous!
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Whitney Bond — January 16, 2020 @ 6:24 PM Reply
Oh interesting, love that idea Chester! So glad you enjoyed it!
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Angel — July 8, 2018 @ 10:34 AM Reply
Do you have a rough estimate on how much 2 chicken breasts weigh? Thinking about modifying this recipe for boneless/skinless chicken thighs, but not sure how much I’ll need to scale the recipe….
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whitneybond — July 9, 2018 @ 8:40 AM Reply
Hi Angel, you’ll need app. 1 lb of chicken thighs instead of breasts. Let me know how it turns out!
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Rose — May 4, 2017 @ 8:37 PM Reply
Hi! I love this dish, I make it in double batches all the time for meal prep. Do you have a rough calorie count for each serving? Thanks so much for posting <3
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whitneybond — May 8, 2017 @ 4:37 PM Reply
Hi Rose, so happy to hear that! According to the website Yummly, which I use for checking nutrition information, this dish is 280 calories per serving.
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Kirsty Fergusson — November 12, 2016 @ 3:21 AM Reply
made your orange chicken last night – i am coeliac – but my fiance is not, and we both LOVED it! thanks for sharing – Kirsty x
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whitneybond — November 15, 2016 @ 6:41 AM Reply
Hi Kristy! I’m so happy to hear that! My brother is celiac, but his wife is not. They make this dish once a week! I’m excited you all loved it too!
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suetip — October 21, 2014 @ 11:25 AM Reply
I made this for my daughter’s 16th birthday. It was amazing. I used regular olive oil. And I substituted 2 different hot sauces for sirachi. I served with rice and broccoli. It was colorful and delicious! Everyone raved about it!
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Aimee — September 23, 2014 @ 2:03 PM Reply
Could this be done as a freezer meal? Has anyone tried? If so, what was your method and result?
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littleleopardbook — September 23, 2014 @ 5:31 PM Reply
Hi Aimee, I haven’t tried it! Anyone else out there tried this?
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Sean Breslin — May 24, 2014 @ 2:06 PM Reply
That is simply a beautiful dish.
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littleleopardbook — May 27, 2014 @ 8:19 AM Reply
Thanks Sean 🙂
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Matt Robinson — May 23, 2014 @ 10:29 PM Reply
Love the addition of sriracha in this, sounds amazing!!!
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littleleopardbook — May 27, 2014 @ 8:20 AM Reply
Thanks so much Matt! I love me a little sriracha addition to pretty much anything!
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